Some Canadians in Canada's northernmost regions worry that Carney's military plans overlook everyday needs

There are only two grocery stores in a Canadian hamlet at the northernmost tip of the Arctic Ocean. The sports arena is the only place to go for entertainment. And there's no doctor. A trip south usually requires a 2-hour flight. Dentists visit the 2,000-person community 'twice per year' and trucks bring in water. Giving birth can often involve flying to another city, several hours away. This is done weeks before the due date. Natasha Neglak Lear (49), a Cambridge Bay resident, was not impressed when she heard that Prime Minister Mark Carney planned to spend more than C$2 billion?to designate Cambridge Bay as one of the two new northern military centers. She said there were'more pressing issues' to be considered, such as a local place where women could give birth.

She said that before they did all of this, they should give to us what the people in the south have, referring specifically to the two-thirds or more of Canadians living within 100 kilometers of the U.S. Border. "Development and doctors, dentists and birthing centers are needed to help us grow."

Carney has committed more than C$35billion to increase military spending in Canada, and to "take control" over its Arctic territory. This move was partly motivated by Donald Trump's threats of annexing Greenland, and making Canada the 51st State, and Trump's demand that Canada and its allies raise their defence expenditure. Canada wants to be able to respond independently to threats in an increasingly dangerous and divided world, which Carney describes as "more dangerous" and "divided". To do this, it is upgrading airports and strengthening northern defenses. It also ensures that aircraft can be deployed anywhere in the Arctic. Climate change is making the icy region more accessible. Russia has more military bases in the Arctic than any other country. In recent years, China began to increase its presence, mainly in partnership with Russia, in this mineral-rich region.

TRAUMATIC MEMORIES

Canada is home to a quarter of the Arctic region of the globe, with most of its territory being significantly less developed than those of European nations. This region is larger than continental Europe and accounts for 40% the land mass of Canada, 75% its coastline but only has less than 150,000 residents.

Indigenous leaders, who make up the majority of Arctic residents, have complained for years about insufficient investments. Politicians also acknowledge that the sparsely-populated region lacks tax bases to finance major infrastructure projects.

Interviews with dozens of military, community and Indigenous leaders in Canada's Arctic?territory showed that some were encouraged by Carney's plan - which includes investing C$294 million to renovate Arctic airports and build new runways. In interviews with dozens military, Indigenous and community leaders in Canada's Arctic Territory, some expressed their support for Carney's plans. This includes investing C$294 millions in renovating Arctic Airports and building new airport runways. Some people were worried that the military would change their lives without improving education, health care and social services. Cambridge Bay Mayor Wayne Gregory stated that he was "ecstatic' about Carney’s Arctic strategy announcement made on March 12. He described the military?hub design as a possible turning point for the city. Some Inuit, which make up over 80% of Nunavut’s population of 42,000 people, still have painful memories from previous militarization attempts during the Cold War. In the 1950s-'60s, the government relocated people thousands of kilometers away and killed thousands of dogs to control disease and public safety. This deprived Inuits of their ability to travel and hunt. Indigenous leaders are concerned that Canada's response to Trump's threat could again violate their constitutional rights to manage their land, culture, and education. Natan Obed is the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami which represents over 70,000 Inuit living in Canada's far north. "We're the best-prepared to deal with any threats that come our way. What we have been asking for are the necessary funds so we can?have thriving community."

Carney's Government disputed the idea that increased defence spending could result in fewer funds being allocated to other local initiatives. Eric Head, the Indigenous Services Ministry's spokesman, pointed to resources dedicated for youth programs, community safety and mental health for Indigenous communities, as well as plans recently announced to spend C$1.4billion on health and social initiatives.

CARIBOU MIGRATION Census figures show that Indigenous people living in the Arctic have a higher rate of unemployment and are more likely to struggle to find housing and food than other Canadians. This has serious consequences. The rate of tuberculosis in Indigenous people living in the Arctic is more than 600 times greater than that of non-Indigenous Canadians, and their life expectancy falls by about 10 years.

Carney's plan only allocates a small fraction of the funds to be spent in the next 12 year for civil projects. For example, a C$1billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund will be used to build roads, ports, and bridges.

Carney, according to some Indigenous leaders, failed to consult them before releasing the plan for developing the Arctic. George Mackenzie is the Dene National Chief of the Northwest Territories. He said that the Prime Minister should meet with regional chiefs from Canada's Indigenous People, as he does with the premiers in each province and territory. Carney has promised to work with Indigenous Leaders and that the government will invest C$10 Billion into energy projects. This investment is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs during construction in the Arctic. Ottawa has backed the Grays Bay Road and Port Project, which is aimed at connecting a mineral-rich area in the Arctic with?global shipping lanes. Some locals fear that it could harm the migration of the 'local caribou herds', the main food source in the region.

Lear, a member of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association's board, expressed her surprise that Carney was promoting the project before the environmental impact had been evaluated. She said that the caribou population is already declining and construction could push them out of the area. Inuit rely on caribous for food, hide and fur. Haugaaq, 62, was teaching local youths how to make traditional fur and gloves at a workshop. She said it was the first in her lifetime that she saw so many politicians involved in the Arctic.

She said, "We need more protection with what is going on in the rest of the world." I hope that the leaders who are in charge of us think about our needs first." (Reporting and editing by Caroline Stauffer, Deepa Babington and Maria Cheng)

(source: Reuters)